Foldable box



' Feb. 12, 1 946.

G. J. EVANS FOLDABLE BOX s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1945 H MN" 35 W INVENTOR. PW P$fl ATTORNEY-S Feb. 12, 1946. EVANS I 2,394,850

VFOLDA'BLE BOX 7 I Filed May l, l9.43 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVEN-TOR.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1946. G. J. EVANS 2,394,850

' FOLDABLE BOX Filed May 1, 1943 s Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES "OFFICE 2,394,850 I FoLnABLE 30x Guy Evans, Badm n. I ApplicationMay'l, 1943, 'Senial Nm-48fi328 invention relates tea folding 'box and morenarticularly to a box of this character having a eontainer, a *cover adaptedftp close the top of the container and a partition whereby the an tr'ior of the-container isdivided into -'a plurality 1 of cells or-eompartments "The objects of this invention are to provide a folding boxwhih requires a --m'inimum'--df mate- -'-'and {can "be mamifacture'd economically, whieh ean' be qiiiekly and'eas'ily assembleiwh'ih permits {off reliably interloking its parts So=tls1at the same are strong and --'dural5le and {will "not come apart when used, which enables the' eover to "be conveniently ande'a'sily ap-filied {to th -'c 'ont-ain'e'r' fwit-h'out liability'o'f inteiferenee of lthec'ontainer with the fastening means of the cever,-and in whih the partition is' so constructeil that it consumes a minimum "of anateria l and its parts are firmly interlocked when erect ed into operativeposition,

ln the accompanyinfg-drawings: r Fig. 1 is a side elevation 6: an erected folding bo'xembo'dyin'g this-invention.

' Fig. is -'a Vertical long'itiidinal section of the same'takenion line 2-2, -Fig."3. I

is a Vertical cross section {of the same taken-onlineai,Figi2. Fig.4 is a plan view of -'-a""fiatb1ank*'f-1fom the container is made.

Fig. ,5 is a similar '-view of "the flat blank iroin which the *cover is made 6 is "a similar view of the 11221; blank-"f-rem whiehonesection' of-the=partition -is niade. I Fi 7 "is a perspective view f df the completely erected container embodying this invention,

Fig. "'8 is fa fragmentary perspective view' "(if a partl ereotedcontainer. e

Fig; *9 is a' -perspeetiv'e View {if a *combletely ereete'deover embodyingthis}invention,

Fig. 101s "a fragmentary;perspective =view 6f a partly erecjtedcover.

Fig. llflis *a "fragmentary pr'speetiveviewof a I partly .ereeted partition section containing the improvementsfofthisinvention.

fInthe following'desc'riptionthesame reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigur'esof'the'drawings.

"The several members ofthi's 'boxere preferably made of cardboard 'or stifi paper, but -if'desirfd the same may be constructed of any other-suit able sheet material which can be die cut into the'ffo'rm'of aflat blankarrgi bent'lrito'theireqliired S are. 7 a,

"irl'fhejfiat' blank ifcaraboaif p rether'sheetima: terial "from whieh thebody or Container or the box' formed or erected, as shown in Fig. 1, com; prises a bottom panel 20 of rectangular f orin,-tw'o redtangxilar-sidwalls 21,21 arranged on opposite sides of "the bottom Panel and adapted to be folded-upwardly thereto j into an upright position along scored longitudinal folding lines 2-2, '22 between the opposing edges of thse pants. At 0p pos'ite ends of the bottom panel are arrangedthe transverse end walls '23 *Qf the container blank which are adapted to -be turned into a position relative "to-the =b0'ttorn *p'anel along-scored transverse fe ldin g li n es 24, 24 -b'etwee'n the bppQsin'g transverse edges of these parts, Each of these end walls is equali-n heiglfna-to""th'e sidewallsso that when t {e side and end walls are turned upwardly the upper edges of the same are even. Alongside off'the transverse fed'ges Qf each side wall are-arranged refit-angular retaining flaps :2- 5 ea'eh'o'f which is adapted to' lee IQldedirito-a'positi-on at right gngle to-the =plane of the respective siiiewall along a scored line -26between the same, and each of these flaps *being equal -in heightto that of the side and end walls 'but the width in: the s me is one-half *thait of the bottom panel and end wens so that 'When the flaps at the corresponding ends of the two side walls are iolded at right angles'thereto the free inneredgles 21 of these flaps "will be onp'o'se'd and engage one another. f

0n opposite sia ser the center of the ou'ter edge ea'ohend wall the same is provided with two 1 kingfho'oks fl each "of which has its inner eage z 9 undercut to {form an inwardl 'overhangin}; beak to while the outer-edge *"3-I or this hook inclinesfinwardly;

Eaeho'f the flaps25gis provided adjacent to its upper edge with a Wshape'd locking slit one part or branch -32 of which is horizontal and parallel with the upper edge-of the respective flap while the'othenpart-or braneh 33 of the same inc'lines at an i acute angle downwardly andlaterally relative lib the -hdrizbntal branch Of this 51117.

When operating the*leqgilyJ51arik-for-the purpose of converting the same 'in'tl) a container the side walls i l are first'turneii upwardly along-the? lines 22 into a perpfendicnlar {position relative thereto together -*wlth 'the flaps "at-opposite ends -of the side walls. "'Then the' -ffi'ap's :are turned inwardly on th lines zliso that the 'flapsat corresponding vertical edges of the side walls -meet midway :of the widthof the eontainer. now urnedupward-1y sign; the lines 24 [into an upright position so -th at e'ah end wall bears against *the outer sides of "the adjacent pair 43f flaps" 25 o'f the s'ide' 'walls, W1'iile inthis posi- The end walls are tion each of the locking hooks 28 is slipped inwardly and upwardly through the horizontal upper part 3| of the respective retaining flap 25 and theincline 29 of the undercut side of the beak at the inner edge of the locking hook is engaged with the extremity of the inclined branch 33 of the locking slit. In order to thus engage the beak of each locking hook with the locking slit of the respective retaining flap it is necessary to spring the respective flap and hook slightly relative to one another, but after the inclined under cut sides of the beaks of both locking hooks have been engaged with the extremities of the inner branches 33 of the respective locking slits at" one end of the container, the lateral pull on the locking hooks, due to the resilience or tension of the bent side walls, causes the undercut inclined edges of the locking hooks to be'drawn.

tightly against the extremities of the inclined inner parts of the locking slits and hold the walls ,of the container firmlyin an erected position. The act of passing the locking hooks through ,the loc ng slits and interlocking the hooks and flaps can be. effected manually very easily and quickly and thus materially reduces the cost of the doing this work-and at thesame time producing a container which is very rigid and not liable to be deformed by ordinary usage. When the container is completely erected the central part of each end wall has its upper edge arranged'on a level or even with the upper edges of the respective flaps and the upper ends of the locking hooks are arranged below the level of the upper edges of the flaps.

It will be noted that in the erected condition of the container the several locking hooks of the end walls when interlockednwith the looking slits of the flaps have their beaks turned downwardly, whereby these hooks are not liable to be disengaged from these slits when depositing anything in the container. This arrangement of the hooks also causes the inclined underouts'of theirbeaks to act as wedges and produce a transversely inward pull on the end and side walls and maintain the container in a rigid cond t o i ,Thefiat blank, shown in Fig. 2, of cardboard or other sheet material from which the cover of the folding box is made comprises a rectangular top panel 36, two longitudinal side flanges- 35 arranged on transversely opposite sides of the top panel and each adapted to be turned downwardly into a position perpendicularto the latter along a scored longitudinal line 36- between the same, and two transverse end flanges 31 arranged at longitudinally opposite ends of the top panel and each adapted to be turned downwardly at right angles to the top panel along a scored transverse line 38 between .the same.

Locking means are provided whereby the adjacent ends of the several side and end flanges are connected with each other at the respective corners of the cover eachof which locking means being constructed as follows: Y

Adjacent to each end of the side flanges the same is provided with a V-shaped locking slit the parts or branches 39, 40 of which converge upwardly or toward the topof the cover and also toward the corner of the box and said parts of each locking slit forming an acute angle between them. p H

The numeral-1| represents locking hooks one of which projects laterally from each end of the transverse cover flange, and is adapted to be turned at right angles theretoon-a line 2-between the same. At its outer end each of the locking hooks is provided with a beak 43 having an undercut recess 44 which opens upwardly or towardthe top of the cover when the latter is erected. After the side and end flanges have been bent or folded downwardly relative to the top of the cover each of the locking hooks is bent relative to its companion end flange and then its beak is passed upwardly through the locking slit in. the adjacent end of the respective side flange and the upwardly opening undercut recess of this beak is engaged with the corner between the two parts of the V-shaped locking slit, thereby locking together the adjacent ends of the respective side and end flanges. Due to the resilience of the sheet material of which the cover is constructed, a pull is exerted on the beaks'jofthe'locking hooks whereby the same areheld in tight engagement with the corners of the V-shaped locking slits and thus renders the cover-strong and stiff and not liable to get out of shape. By constructing the corner locking meansof the cover so that the beaksand under cut recessesof the locking hooks are toward the top of thecover, instead of downward there from, a much more reliable connection is produced between the side and end flanges at each corner of thecover and'any obstruction which may be met by the locking hooks when applying the cover to the container will not tend to unfastenthe same but on theoontrary will serve to interlock the locking hooks-and slits more effectively.

When the cover is applied to the container for enclosing the goods in the latter the flanges-of the cover surround the upper parts of the walls of thecontainer as usual in boxes of this character, the overall dimensions of the cover bein somewhat greater than those of the container for this purpose. If, upon closing the cover over the container, any of the goods within the same should come in contact with any of the lockin hooks of the container or the cover, these hooks would be pushed outwardly, those of the cover toward the top thereof and those of the container toward the bottom of the-same, and thereby tend to engage these hooks mor securely with the slitted members cooperating therewith; If the beaks of these locking hooks were turned'toward the inner side of -the box, as hasbeenthe case heretofore, any engagement of goods in the box with these hooks would be liable to-push the same out of the slits with :which theyengage and thus loosen the boxand render; the same insecure as an enclosure for the goods. It willtherefore be apparent ,that turning the beaks of the locking hooks on the container and 'cover outwardly toward'the surface ofthe box avoids the liability of disengaging the hooks from the slittedmembers and thus maintains the box in a strong and durable condition so as to provide the'best protection for thegoods enclosedin the box.

The space Within the box is divided by a partition into a plurality of cells or compartments which are adapted to receive individual goods and separate the goods in adjacent 5 compartments from one another. This partition comprises a plurality of sectionswhich may be assembled so as to produce a group of compartments in one plane, or the same-may be assembled so that a seriesof. groups of compartments are stacked or superposed one above another. In Figs. 2 and 3 the partition sections are arranged to form two superposed groups of compartmentsas an example of one use of this invention, but it is'tobe understood that: the intention pplies to a s n le swap or more than two: roups of, compartmenta- Eachseetion or the partitionis made of card-- board or other;v sheet material, and is formed from a flat b ank which, as shown in F g. 6, com rises two rectangular strips 45, 46- which are adapted to be bent orfolded relative to each. other long a scored. longitudinal line. so that thestrip 45 forms a-horizontal flange and the strip 46 aver: tical flange which projects upwardly from one longitudinal edge of the horizontal. flange, as shown inFigs. 2; 3 and 11. Atintervalsthe hori zon al f ange 45 is provided with alternating slits 48, 49', each slit 48 extending in at right angles fully from the edge of the lower horizontal flange 45to the folding line 41 between the same and the vertical flange 4'6, and the slit 49 extendin at an oblique angle from said folding line toward the outer edge of said horizontal flange for a dis tance about one-fourth of the width of the horizontal flange. At intervals in its length the blank of the partition is provided along the longitudinal folding line 41 with short longitudinal slits 59 each of which extends from the inner end of one of the right angle slits 48 to the inner end of an adjacent oblique slit 49 so that the respective slits diverge from the folding line 41 toward the outer edge of the horizontal flange.

At intervals the horizontal flange of the partition blank is provided with scored transverse folding lines 5| each of which extends from the outer end of one of the oblique slits 49 to the outer edge of the respective horizontal flange, thereby dividing the latter into a plurality of cell bottoms 52 and a plurality of cross walls 53 which alternate with the cell bottoms. By bending the strip 46 upwardly relative to the strip 45 along the longitudinal line 41 and bending each of the walls 53 upwardly into a vertical position along the respective transverse line 5|, a plurality of cells are produced of which the horizontal parts 52 form the bottoms, the upright parts 53 form the transverse Walls and the upright part 46 forms the longitudinal walls of the several cells. When the partition blank is thus bent each of the bottoms 53 is mainly rectangular in form but provided adjacent to the respective oblique slit 49 with a triangular projection forming a gusset 54 and the adjacent corner of the respective cross wall 53 from which this gusset has been formed is blunt or cut off as shown at 55 in Figs. 3, 6 and 11. The presence of this gusset between the upright longitudinal Wall 46 and each of the cell bottoms strengthens this partition section as a whole but the blunt formation 55 at the inner lower corners of the cross walls of the cells does not weaken the same.

Locking means are provided whereby the cross walls of the partition sections are held in a vertical position, which means are constructed as follows:

The numeral 56 represents a plurality of looking tabs each of which is arranged on the inner edge of one of the cross walls 53 and adapted to interlock with the vertical end of a resilient locking tongue 51 on the adjacent part of therespective longitudinal partition flange. The looking tab is preferably inclined downwardly and formed by means of a U-shaped slit 58 out of the lower edge of the longitudinal flange 46 between a pair of adjacent slits 48 and 49 in the respective partition blank. Each of the locking tongues 5'! is preferably inclined toward the adjacent slit 50 of the partition blank and formed by m ans of a orrespondingly shaped slit 53 termed iron: the material or stools in; the. longitudinal; flange; of the partition blank and hav in a. verti al front ed e,v as shown in. Figs. .2; and, 11.. Whenv forming ach partition sect on t e longitudinal strip 46 is first turned into an upright position relative to the companion horizont lpstrip oi the. partition section and then each of the crosswalls is raised from the horizontal position in which it was cut from the blank to avertical position in which it forms part of a cell. While thus raising each cros wa l into an upright position the locking tab 5tv thereof rides over the respective locking tongue 51 and deflects the same until thetab reaches the ver-- tical front end of. the tongue and then th latter will spring back, due to its inherent resilience, and engage the rear side of the tab with a clutch action, whereby this cross wall and the upright flange of the partition section are securely interlocked and the part of the same are securely held in their operative position.

When a plurality of partition sections are arranged side by side in the box the vertical longitudinal flange of a section on one side of the box engages with the corresponding side wall of the box while the opposite wall of the box forms a closure for the open outer sides of the cells on I the opposite side of the box, and those cells whose open sides face inwardly are closed by the vertical longitudinal flanges on an adjacent partition section.

In Figs. 2 and 3 two partitions are arranged side by side in the lower part of the box and the height of the latter is such that two groups of partition section can be placed one above the other in the box, but this number of partition sections and groups may be varied to suit requirements.

It will be noted that some of the cell bottoms are comparatively short and others long and this can also be varied as desired.

As a whole this folding box is very simple in construction, the same can be manufactured from a minimum amount of material, its erection can be accomplished with ease and facility so that the cost is low, and in its completed form the same provides a box in which the corners are securely locked and thus render the same very strong and durable, neat in appearance and not liable to be distorted While being handled or shipped.

The partition whereby the interior of the box is subdivided in a plurality of cells permits of utilizing the sides and ends of the container of the box to form walls of these cells and thus effecting a saving in material and also the time required to assemble this unit in the container.

I claim as my invention:

A folding box including a partition which divides the interior of the box into a plurality of cells, said partition comprising a section formed from a flat sheet blank having two longitudinal strips which are adapted to be turned relative to each other on a longitudinal line so that one of said strips forms a horizontal flange and the other a vertical flange, and said blank being slitted at intervals along said longitudinal line and said horizontal flange being slitted at intervals from its outer edge to said longitudinal line to provide a plurality of cross walls which are bent upwardly relative to said horizontal flange and divide parts of the latter into a plurality of cell bottoms, and locking means for connecting each of said cross cross wall in an upright position, including a hook shaped locking tab arranged on the upright inner edge of said cross wall and inclining downwardly therefrom in the form of a beak which is adapted to engage with the outer side of said vertical flange and formed by material removed from the lower edge of said vertical flange, and a flexible locking tongue which is fre at its front end and at its opposite sides and attached at its rear end to said upright flange and formed in this flange by cutting a U-shaped slot therein, and this flexible locking tongue being deflectable by moving engagement therewith of the front end ofsaid locking tab and said locking tongue being ened at its front end by said locking tab when walls with said upright flange and holding said said cross wall is in a vertical position, and said locking tongue being arranged at an angle which is tangent to the curve of the axis about which said cross Wall turns when the same move from a position co-planar with said horizontal flange to a position at right angles thereto, and the inner lower corner of each cross wall being cutoff at an angle and the material-of said cutoff portion being left in the adjacent part of the horizontal flange to form a V-shaped gusset between the inner edge of the respective portion of the horizontal flange and the adjacent lower edge portion of the vertical flange for increasing the strength of the connection between these flanges.

GUY J. EVANS. 

